Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had a great Christmas this year.  We did our usual Christmas Eve get-together at my aunt and uncles with all the cousins, where we eat till we're stuffed and play silly games.  Then we spent Christmas morning at my parents house.  We opened presents and waited anxiously until noon for my brother Casey to call.  It was SO great to talk to him!  It's great to hear how well he is doing and that he is enjoying his time on his mission.  So many people sent him packages for Christmas, and he spent the day with his companion and roommates and  two different families that had them over for Christmas eve and Christmas day.  It was hard to have to say goodbye to him again, but we will be able to talk to him in just about 4 months, right before the baby is born! We talked to him until about 2:30 and then Nick and I headed over to his parents house for more food and presents.  We left there around 6 and headed home to open the gifts we had gotten each other.  We are looking forward to having Christmas day at our own house next year, that way maybe Christmas wont be so exhausting!  

(apparently I was talking when this picture was taken)

Here is a picture of one of the gifts Nick got me.  I love it and it was SO thoughtful of him.  The stones are pink sapphires.  Sapphire is my birthstone and pink is one of my favorite colors.  He got it for me as sort of a pregnancy gift.  It's something I will have to remember this new and exciting time in our lives, and if my ring finger swells and I can't wear my wedding rings, I can wear this one for the time being.

We don't have any exciting plans for New Years.  We will most likely spend it watching a movie at home, or hanging out with family.  We are looking forward to the New Year though, and all the exciting things to come.  I've mentioned before that we have our ultrasound appointment on January 12th and we can't wait!  And then welcoming our little one in May, it's going to be a great year!